Steam vaporizer



Jan. 8, .1946. R, R, HSHER 2,392,372

STEAM VAPORIZER Filed July 17', 1944 .INV ENT OR. Fay R E's/1e1- Iva eqa.

Patented Jan. 8, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STEAM VAPORIZER Roy It. Fisher, Detroit, Mich.

Application July 17, 1944, Serial No. 545,324

3 Claims.

This application relates to a steam vaporizer.

Reference is made to applicants copending application, Serial No. 490,575, on a Bottle heater, filed June 12, 1943. There is shown and described a cup-shaped bottle warmer in which steam is electrically created for heating a nursing bottle.

The present invention .contemplates an improved steam vaporizer for use in a nursery or sick room for persons who are bothered with chest congestion or cough. There are numerous types of steam Vaporizers at present on the market but all of them are expensive and complicated or extremely inconvenient. The present invention contemplates the very simple device for efiectively vaporizing a medical oil Without causing loss of the same and in a way to get the most effectiv use of the vaporant.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear in the following description and claims:

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the assembly.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the assembly.

Fig. 3 is a plan view.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig, 2.

The invention consists of a combination of a steam forming cup I and a receptacle 1 I supported by the cup. The cup 1 a may be formed of ceramic or other non-porous heat insulating material. It has two carbon electrodes 12 and I3 mounted in a base thereof with metal projections l and I for insertion in an electrical utility cord plug. The support IE is used for supporting a nursery bottle while the same is being heated in the cup. Water is inserted in the cup and fills the chamber I! thus completing an electrical circuit between electrodes I2 and I3 causing conversion of the water into steam which passes upwardly in the cup. The vaporant receptacle H has cylindrical sidewalls 2| with a base 22 shaped so that it presents a concave surface at the bottom and a convex surface on the top. Extending outwardly from the walls 2 I is a rim 25.

The rim 25 has an undercut portion 26 the purpose of which will be explained below. It is also provided with radial slots 21.

In th operation of the device, a menthol oil is placed in the receptacle H to the depth of a quarter 0A") or half inch 12") on the bottom.

The cup In is then filled with water up to about the half-way mark and the current is applied. The water will be heated and steam will be formed in cup In and it will tend to pass upward around receptacle H. The concave bottom 22 fumes from the material in the receptacle H.

Steam mixes with these fumes and carries them to the various parts of the room.

The present device has the advantage that live steam does not come into direct contact with the material to be vaporized; rather it mixes with the fumes or vapors above the material and carries them into the atmosphere. The advantage of this is that the boiling point of most of these vaporants is around to F. If the material is to be subjected to direct steam it tends to vaporize too rapidly thus giving too concentrated a vapor and wasting the medicant. The present device gets the most out of the steam by utilizing the concave bafiling arrangement and the undercut portion 26. Then a small portion of the steam is fed out to mix with the vapors and distribute them as desired.

What I claim is:

1. A medical vaporizing combination comprising a steam producing vessel having an aperture at the top thereof and a vaporant receptacle supported in said aperture having substantially cylindrical sidewalls and a bottom with a concave surface and an outwardly extending upper rim having an undercut portion between the walls and the outer edge and provided with one or more apertures for the release of steam from the vessel to a point above th vaporant receptacle,

2. A medical vaporizing combination comprising a steam producing vessel having an aperture at the top thereof and a vaporant receptacle arranged to be supported on the annular rim of said aperture comprising cylindrical sidewalls and a bottom having a concave lower surface smaller in diameter than the aperture, and an outwardly extending annular rim adjacent the top of the receptacle serving as a support for the receptacle and having an undercut portion between the walls and the outer edge for trapping and condensing steam.

3. A medical vaporizing combination comprising a steam producing vessel having an aperture at the top thereof and a vaporant receptacle arranged to be supported on the annular rim of vsaid aperture comprising cylindrical sidewalls ping and condensing steam, said sidewalls being and a bottom having a concave lower surface provided with one or more apertures adjacent the smaller in diameter than the aperture, and an top thereof for permitting the release of steam outwardly extending annular rim adjacent the from the vessel to a point above the vaporant top of the receptacle serving as a support for 5 containing portion of the receptacle.

th receptacle and having an undercut portion between the walls and the outer edge for trap- ROY R. FISHER. 

